PLANS to knock down a Basingstoke retail park and replace it with a 24-hour seven commercial development have been submitted to the borough council, but concerns have been raised about the impact of noise on nearby residents.

Equation Properties has revealed its plans to develop the 3.24-hectare Brighton Hill Retail Park, in Winchester Road, asking for permission to erect two buildings for commercial and office use.

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The existing McDonald’s restaurant and drive-thru will be the only retail until to remain on the site.

According to the applicant, the development will be a “huge benefit to the local economy” delivering between 220 to 415 full-time jobs.

The application states: “The redevelopment of this underutilised site will result in the provision of modern, high-quality employment floorspace in Basingstoke, where demand is high, and supply limited, particularly in sustainable urban locations that are attractive to last mile logistics businesses.”

Equation Properties said it had “positive” discussions with planning officers prior to submitting its plans, and said officers confirmed that “planning permission would be forthcoming subject to demonstrating compliance with all other relevant development management policies”.

The plans include the creation of 145 car parking spaces, of which five per cent would include electric vehicle charging points.

Equation Properties said it consulted with 587 residents and businesses prior to submitting the plans.

The main concerns from feedback related to the impact of extra traffic on The Harrow Way.

The site would be accessed from a single point from The Harrow Way, with the McDonald’s drive-thru access staying on Winchester Road.

Equation Properties said: “The development of the site will bring an existing, largely vacant and underutilised commercial plot into beneficial use, ensuring the most efficient use of the land is achieved. The proposal will result in numerous benefits to the local area and economy. Specifically, the proposals will provide a much needed, modern and high-quality industrial units.”

However, concerns were raised by council officers prior to the plans being submitted.

An urban design officer described the units as “incongruous” and added that they “fail to respect the character of the surrounding area”.

Another officer said the layout would “significantly harm this established character”.

A landscape office said the proposed buildings were “at odds with the immediate context along the Harrow Way and Winchester Road, with regards to their scale, proportion and appearance”.

Officers also raised concerns about noise, suggesting that the hours of construction and deliveries need to be restricted “to prevent an adverse impact" for those living nearby.

Officers advised that the application should include a full noise assessment to assess the impact of noise from deliveries and collections.

However, the applicant concluded that operational noise would not create an “adverse effect”.

If approved, work could take place at the same time as the redevelopment of the Brighton Hill Roundabout, which has already begun.

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